Court declares raid on house of journalist Mohsin Baig as illegal

Islamabad: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday declared the raid on the house of journalist Mohsin Baig illegal.

Additional Sessions Judge issued a detailed verdict and declared the raid on Mohsin Baig’s house illegal. The court also directed Islamabad IGP to take action against the station house officer (SHO) concerned.

“The officials carried out a raid at Baig house without any search warrant which is unlawful,” the verdict read. “Those who raided the house of the journalist were not authorised to do so,” the court further said.

Earlier in the day, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted three-day physical remand of Mohsin Jamil Baig. 

The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) cybercrime wing had arrested senior journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig  after a raid on his house in Islamabad. 

According to details, a heavy contingent of police surrounded journalist's house. During the raid, a heated argument stirred between the journalist, FIA officials as well as the police.  

Reportedly, Baig asked for his arrest warrant. The FIA team had neither any warrant nor was any case registered against him. 

However, the raid continued for an hour owing to resistance and the accused—in a surfaced video— can clearly be seen carrying a gun and pointing at the law enforcers at the time of detention. 

 Mohsin Baig’s lawyer—while speaking to the media— alleged that plain cloth police officials raided early morning without a legal warrant, adding that the team misbehaved with the family members as well. 

In the meantime, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill had said that the government had approached the country's courts against a journalist who issued "insulting and fabricated" statements about First Lady Bushra Bibi. 

Strict legal action will be taken against those who spread false news about the first lady, said SAPM.

As per brief history, the journalist appeared in a private channel’s show and made a reference to Prime Minister Imran Khan's ex-wife Reham Khan's book. The penal was discussing the Prime Minister’s awarding of certificates to top ten ministers over their performance. 

The panelist were discussing the performance of Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed.  

Journalist’s reference to Reham's memoir was widely slammed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters who claimed the remarks did not qualify as ‘journalism’.   

On the other hand, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has also issued a show-cause notice to the media outlet for airing what it called derogatory/demeaning remarks about Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed and Prime Minister Imran Khan without any editorial check. 

As per the regulatory authority, the remarks were pure violation of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002; several clauses of the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015 and the orders of the Supreme Court in a 2018 suo motu case.